GCN5 regulates ZBTB16 through acetylation, mediates osteogenic differentiation, and affects orthodontic tooth movement.

In the process of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) must undergo osteogenic differentiation. OTM increased the expression of Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 16 (ZBTB16), which is implicated in osteogenic differentiation. Our goal was to investigate the mechanism of PDLF osteogenic differentiation mediated by ZBTB16. The OTM rat model was established, and PDLFs were isolated and exposed to mechanical force. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Alizarin Red staining, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were carried out. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were conducted. In OTM models, ZBTB16 was significantly expressed. Additionally, there was an uneven distribution of PDLFs in the OTM group, as well as an increase in fibroblasts and inflammatory infiltration. ZBTB16 interference hindered PDLF osteogenic differentiation and decreased Wnt and ß-catenin levels. Meanwhile, ZBTB16 activated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. ZBTB16 also enhanced the expression of the osteogenic molecules osterix, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), and bone sialo protein (BSP) at mRNA and protein levels. The interactions between Wnt1 and ZBTB16, as well as GCN5 and ZBTB16, were also verified. The adeno-associated virus-shZBTB16 injection also proved to inhibit osteogenic differentiation and reduce tooth movement distance in in vivo tests. ZBTB16 was up-regulated in OTM. Through acetylation modification of ZBTB16, GCN5 regulated the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and further mediated PDLF osteogenic differentiation.

Efficacy of low-dose versus high-dose simethicone with polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Additional simethicone (SIM) can improve adequate bowel preparation and adenoma detection rate (ADR). However, there is no consensus on the optimal dose of SIM. In this study, we compared the adequate bowel preparation rate with supplementation of split-dose 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) with low-dose SIM (200 mg) versus high-dose SIM (1200 mg). METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, observer-blinded trial involving consecutive subjects undergoing colonoscopy. The primary outcome was adequate bowel preparation as assessed by Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) score. RESULTS: Four hundred subjects were randomly allocated to low-dose SIM or high-dose SIM group. Baseline characteristics were comparable in the two groups (P > 0.05). No significant between-group differences were observed with respect to total bubble scale (BS) (8.49 ± 1.00 vs 8.39 ± 1.10, P = 0.07), total BBPS score (8.70 ± 0.81 vs 8.29 ± 1.18, P = 0.98), ADR (33.68% vs 31.79%, P = 0.69) or withdrawal time (13 [range, 10-16] min vs 13 [10-15] min, P = 0.96). The intubation time in low-dose SIM group was significantly shorter than that in high-dose SIM group (8 (4-16) min vs 10 [6-17] min, P = 0.04). In addition, BS scores as well as diminutive ADR in right colon were superior in the low-dose SIM group (2.68 ± 0.59 vs 2.52 ± 0.73, P = 0.03 and 54.29% vs 30.30%, P = 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSION: Addition of low-dose SIM to split-dose 2 L PEG was as effective as addition of high-dose SIM with respect to adequate bowel preparation, ADR and patient tolerance. However, low-dose SIM was superior with respect to intubation time, right colon BS scores, right colon diminutive ADR and cost savings.

A mechanism for retromer endosomal coat complex assembly with cargo.

Retromer is an evolutionarily conserved protein complex composed of the VPS26, VPS29, and VPS35 proteins that selects and packages cargo proteins into transport carriers that export cargo from the endosome. The mechanisms by which retromer is recruited to the endosome and captures cargo are unknown. We show that membrane recruitment of retromer is mediated by bivalent recognition of an effector of PI3K, SNX3, and the RAB7A GTPase, by the VPS35 retromer subunit. These bivalent interactions prime retromer to capture integral membrane cargo, which enhances membrane association of retromer and initiates cargo sorting. The role of RAB7A is severely impaired by a mutation, K157N, that causes Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy 2B. The results elucidate minimal requirements for retromer assembly on the endosome membrane and reveal how PI3K and RAB signaling are coupled to initiate retromer-mediated cargo export.

Surface Modification and Functionalities for Titanium Dental Implants.

Dental implants have become the mainstream strategy for oral restoration, and implant materials are the most important research hot spot in this field. So far, Ti implants dominate all kinds of implants. The surface properties of the Ti implant play decisive roles in osseointegration and antibacterial performance. Surface modifications can significantly change the surface micro/nanotopography and composition of Ti implants, which will effectively improve their hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, osseointegration performance, antibacterial performance, etc. These optimizations will thus improve implant success and service life. In this paper, the latest surface modification techniques of Ti dental implants are systematically and comprehensively reviewed. The various biomedical functionalities of surface modifications are discussed in-depth. Finally, a profound comment on the challenges and opportunities of this frontier is proposed, and the most promising directions for the future were explored.

[Study on self-reported halitosis and the associated factors in patients in a periodontal clinic].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate self-reported halitosis in patients who visited a periodontal clinic and assess the possible factors associated with genuine halitosis. METHODS: The subjects included 435 patients who visited periodontal department of Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology. All of them were non-smokers. First, the degree of halitosis was estimated by Organoleptic Test. Then, a standardized questionnaire focusing on life style, oral hygiene, medical history, dental condition, self-reported halitosis was completed by all participants. Additionally, tongue coating was evaluated for 312 patients. RESULTS: 273 of 435 participants had self-reported halitosis. According to Organoleptic Test, 31.2% patients complaining halitosis had actually no malodor while 68.8% had genuine halitosis. There was statistically significant difference of the proportion of patients who were unwilling to mention about halitosis between genuine halitosis group and pseudo-halitosis group (P=0.003). Proportion of patients who had accepted treatment for halitosis was statistically significant higher in pseudo-halitosis group than in genuine halitosis group (P=0.029). Logistic regression analysis showed bleeding on brushing (OR=2.905, P=0.000), area of tongue coating≥2 (OR=2.395, P=0.019), thickness of tongue coating≥2 (OR=3.419, P=0.000) were factors associated with genuine halitosis. CONCLUSION: Not all self-reported patients actually had malodor, the psychological condition was different between pseudo-halitosis and genuine halitosis patients. Bleeding on brushing, large tongue coating area, thick tongue coating were associated with genuine halitosis.

[Effect of oral rinse with Turkish gall on the clinical periodontal parameters and halitosis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of traditional Chinese medicine, oral rinse of Turkish gall (extracts from Turkish gall) on periodontal and halitosis parameters. METHODS: This single-blinded randomized controlled trial recruited 70 patients with gingivitis or mild to moderate chronic periodontitis. All the patients received the same professional oral hygiene instruction and using toothbrush and fluoride-only paste with same brand and size dispatched by the investigator from baseline to the end. The tested group by oral rinse of Turkish gall on the base of conventional oral hygiene, and control group with conventional oral hygiene only, were assigned randomly at baseline. Then periodontal parameters including Plaque index (PlI), Bleeding index (BI), Probing depth (PD) and Staining index (SI), halitosis index including volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) by Halimeter, organoleptic score (OS), area of tongue coating (Ta), thickness of tongue coating (Tt), were measured at baseline and two-weeks after. RESULTS: After two weeks, all the periodontal parameters except for SI were significantly improved within each group (P<0.001). As compared to those in control group, the patients in tested group only exhibited significant improvement of PlI after two-week-use of oral rinse of Turkish gall (P<0.05). Though values of OS and Tt in tested group, OS only in control group, decreased significantly (P<0.05) respectively after two weeks, there were no statistical difference on the improvement of halitosis parameters. CONCLUSION: For untreated patients with gingivitis and periodontitis, oral rinse of Turkish gall displayed significant inhibition of dental plaque, while no predominated effect on halitosis when compared to correct conventional plaque control methods.

Experimental and modelling characterisation of adjustable hollow Micro-needle delivery systems.

BACKGROUND: Hollow micro-needles have been used increasingly less in practice because the infusion into the skin is limited by the tissue resistance to flow. The relationship between the infusion flow rate and tissue resistance pressure is not clear. METHODS: A custom-made, hollow micro-needle system was used in this study. The driving force and infusion flow rate were measured using a force transducer attached to an infusion pump. Evans blue dye was injected into the air, polyacrylamide gel and in-vivo mouse skin at different flow rates. Two different micro-needle lengths were used for in-vivo infusion into the mouse. A model was derived to calculate the driving force of the micro-needle infusion into the air, and the results were compared to experimental data. RESULTS: The calculated driving forces match the experimental results with different infusion flow rates. The pressure loss throughout the micro-needle delivery system was found to be two orders smaller than the resistance pressure inside the gel and mouse skin, and the resistance pressure increased with increasing flow rate. A portion of liquid backflow was observed when the flow rate was relatively larger, and the backflow was associated with a sudden larger increase in resistance pressure at a higher flow rate. CONCLUSIONS: The current micro-needle delivery system is capable of administering liquid into the mouse skin at a flow rate of up to 0.15 ml/min, without causing significant backflow on the surface. The resistance pressure increases with increasing flow rate, causing infusion restriction at higher flow rates.

Synthesis and properties of a novel biodegradable poly(ester amine) copolymer based on poly(L-lactide) and low molecular weight polyethylenimine for gene delivery.

BACKGROUND: Gene therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The development of efficient and adequate gene delivery systems could be one of the most important factors. Polyethyleneimine, a cationic polymer, is one of the most successful and widely used vectors for nonviral transfection in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A novel biodegradable poly(ester amine) copolymer (PEA) was successfully prepared from low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI, 2000 Da) and poly(L-lactide) copolymers. RESULTS: According to the results of agarose gel electrophoresis, particle size and zeta potential measurement, and transfection efficiency, the PEA copolymers showed a good ability to condense plasmid DNA effectively into nanocomplexes with a small particle size (≤150 nm) and moderate zeta potential (≥10 mV) at an appropriate polymeric carrier/DNA weight ratio. Compared with high molecular weight PEI (25kDa), the PEA obtained showed relatively high gene transfection efficiency as well as low cytotoxicity in vitro. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that such PEA might have potential application as a gene delivery system.

[Relationship between salivary occult blood and level of volatile sulphur compounds in oral cavity].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of the salivary occult blood after periodontal mechanical therapy, and to assess the correlations between salivary occult blood and the level of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in oral cavity, periodontal clinical parameters, respectively. METHODS: Fifty patients with gingivititis, mild or moderate periodontitis were included. The level of VSC were measured by Halimeter(®) and salivary occult blood was tested by Perioscreen(®) before periodontal examination. Then full mouth plaque index (PLI), probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI) were charted. Attachment loss (AL) of the Ramfjörd teeth were recorded lastly. Intensive periodontal mechanical therapy was conducted including oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing (SRP). Four weeks after SRP, the same examinations were repeated. RESULTS: Salivary occult blood was significantly correlated with BI (r = 0.294) and PLI (r = 0.308) before periodontal therapy (P < 0.01), and also significantly correlated with VSC level (r = 0.386), PLI (r = 0.456), BI (r = 0.352), AL (r = 0.325) after therapy (P < 0.05). The improvement of VSC level [211.0 (111.0 - 389.5) × 10⁻9 vs 100.0 (46.3 - 165.3) × 10⁻9], the clinical periodontal parameters including PLI [(1.3 ± 1.0) vs (0.4 ± 0.6)], PD [(3.7 ± 1.5) mm vs (2.7 ± 0.9) mm], BI [(1.8 ± 1.2) vs (0.4 ± 0.7)] and AL [(1.0 ± 1.1) mm vs (0.1 ± 0.5) mm after the treatment was statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, standing on the viewpoint of salivary occult blood changes from positive before therapy to negative after therapy, only 80% (40/50) individuals were totally cured. VSC level in oral cavity and periodontal clinical parameters significantly decreased (P < 0.001) following the trends from strong positive, weak positive, to negative results of salivary occult blood test. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary occult blood was correlated with VSC level in oral cavity of periodontal treated patients. It may be an objective parameter to evaluate the gingival inflammation and the efficacy of the periodontal therapy at individual level.